Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager - On-site, Perth Amboy, NJ

WE ARE HIRING: FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

Location: Perth Amboy, NJ (On-site)

Reporting to: Director of Food Safety & Quality

Pay: $90,000 – $100,000 per year

About Us:

Tropical Cheese Industries is a manufacturer of Hispanic-style cheeses and dairy products based in Perth Amboy, NJ. We're looking for a hands-on Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager to own the food safety program for our soft cheese manufacturing operations.

Overview:

You'll own the site's Food Safety Plan, maintain our SQF certification, and lead the programs that keep our products safe, from raw milk to finished product. You'll work closely with Production, Maintenance, and R&D, and you'll lead a team responsible for inspection, sampling, and testing.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop, validate, and maintain the site's Food Safety Plan (HACCP/HARPC) under FDA FSMA requirements, including hazard analysis, preventive controls, and CCP/PC monitoring.

- Maintain SQF certification under the current SQF Code, including document control, internal audits, and audit readiness.

- Manage the prerequisite programs: GMPs, sanitation and the Master Sanitation Schedule, environmental monitoring, pest control, allergen control, supplier approval, traceability and recall, and calibration.

- Ensure compliance with FDA requirements for soft cheese, including Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Grade "A" standards where applicable, labeling, and cGMPs.

- Lead SQF, FDA, and customer audits, and drive root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to closure.

- Direct the team responsible for inspecting, sampling, and testing raw materials, in-process product, facilities, and finished goods.

- Analyze quality data and product specifications using statistical tools to set standards and improve product reliability.

- Investigate customer complaints and use complaint trends to drive corrective action.

- Plan and deliver training on food safety, HACCP/HARPC, GMPs, and product quality.

- Partner with Production, Maintenance, and R&D on food safety risk assessments for new products, processes, ingredients, and equipment.

Job Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- 3–5 years of food safety and quality experience in food manufacturing. Dairy or soft cheese experience is strongly preferred.

- Hands-on experience developing and maintaining a Food Safety Plan under FDA/FSMA and supporting SQF certification.

- HACCP certification (required).

- PCQI certification (required, or must be obtained within a defined period after hire).

- SQF Practitioner certification (preferred, or must be obtained within a defined period after hire).

- Excellent leadership and project management skills, with the ability to influence and educate cross-functional teams.

- High attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

- Strong root cause analysis skills and comfort with statistics, sampling plans, and SPC.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including writing technical reports and food safety documentation and presenting to leadership, auditors, and regulators.

- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and digital compliance tools (e.g., SafetyChain, iAuditor, TraceGains).

- Bilingual in English and Spanish.

- Environmental monitoring and Listeria control experience in a high-moisture, ready-to-eat environment.

- Internal Auditor or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor training.

Work Environment & Schedule:

- Full-time, on-site position based in Perth Amboy, NJ.

- Standard schedule is Monday through Friday.

What We Offer:

- Competitive salary performance bonus

- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

- 401(k) with company match

- Paid time off (PTO)

- Paid holidays

- Employee discount

- Professional development opportunities

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): Tropical Cheese Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you now or will you in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States?
• This position is fully on-site in Perth Amboy, NJ, five days a week (Monday through Friday). Are you comfortable with this schedule?

Ability to Commute:

• Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000 - $100,000